VARSITY O 2020 SPRING NEWS

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT“We are Ohioans. We are Buckeyes. We are strong.”

With those words, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the “Stay at Home” Order, one of many measures put in place to lessen the harm of the COVID-19 virus.

We live in unprecedented times. We are battling a deadly disease, which is spreading exponentially around the globe. The virus is taking lives, felling people left and right. No place on Earth is safe, and no one is immune. There is no cure.

To further the fight to save lives, we are locked in, and locked down.

Of course, there has been a tremendous impact on our beloved University. The campus has shut down. The dorms are closed, and students have gone home. The Buckeye sports program is dormant. Championship tournaments for winter sports were cancelled. All practice facilities were closed. The spring football game was cancelled. Spring sports are cancelled.

Several campus events in which Varsity “O” plays an important role were cancelled. The Winter Sports Letter Jacket Ceremony. The Scholar Athlete Dinner. The Scarlet and Graymies Award Program. Meet the Coaches Night, featuring Coaches Ryan Day and Chris Holtmann. The Covelli Center Tour. The Schumaker Complex Tour.

All of this is disappointing to current Buckeye student-athletes, and to our members. No one likes this unfortunate situation. But a dose of perspective helps.

We are making sacrifices for the greater good. Sports take a back seat when people are fighting a deadly pandemic.

As athletes, we were built for dealing with this. We know all about adversity. We know hurt. We know sacrifice, suffering, unfairness, pain.

We know that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Our training has taught us determination, grit, guts, perseverance, tenacity.

This training will help in the hard days ahead. Things are tough, and they are going to get tougher. Archie Griffin said, “In the face of adversity, you find out if you’re a fighter or a quitter. It’s all about getting up after you’ve been knocked down.” Woody Hayes said, “There’s nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you.”

Losses, and trouble, do not define us.

As we confront the difficulties we are all facing, we do so with Buckeye qualities of optimism, hopefulness, confidence, a positive mental attitude, and enthusiasm. We are in this together. We are mutually supportive, we are a team, we come together in difficult times, we look out for each other, we have firm friendships, we fight to the end, and we will smash through to victory.

We’ve got this. We are Buckeyes. We are strong.

Be safe. Be well.

Go Bucks!

Steve ChappelearVarsity O PresidentWrestling (’71-’74)

For ten years, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission has celebrated girls and women in sports at the Women’s Sports Report. We’ve heard from trailblazers in the sports industry and advocates for girls’ and women’s sports. They’ve gathered the community around the athletes, coaches, fans and media that continue to showcase the importance of women in sports.

Varsity “O” showed up in support of this staple event in our sports community. Executive Director Linda Logan told the story of how the Women’s Sports Report came to be. She said that in 2010 there were three local collegiate women’s sports team that were having record breaking seasons, but no one really knew about it. One of those teams was the Ohio State Women’s Soccer Team, which was captained by Varsity “O” Board Member Cassie Dickerson.

We also got to hear Maria Taylor, ESPN analyst and reporter, talk about the importance of girls and women in sports and the work she is doing to mentor and grow the next generation of women in her industry.

VARSITY “O” DINNER FOR 12 BUCKEYESVarsity “O” members sat down for dinner with current student-athletes at Longaberger Alumni House on March 2, 2020, as part of the OSU Alumni Association’s “Dinner for 12 Buckeyes” program.

The six Varsity “O” members in attendance were Martina Ellerbe, Joe Budde, Cassie Dickerson, Jeff Sheard, Tom Levenick, and Nate Oliver.

The current student athletes were Emma Decoste, Becca Mauer, RJ Russell, Cailly O’Toole, Kaitlyn Carboun, and Hannah Gruensfelder.

OHIO WOMEN’S SPORTS REPORT

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The Ohio State University Varsity “O“ Alumni Society paid tribute to two special individuals with the presentation of the Varsity “O“ Barbie Tootle Buckeye Spirit and the Phyllis Bailey Career Achievement Awards.

These two award winners exemplify what it truly means to be a Buckeye, and have been advocates of athletics by showing consistent support over the years for teams and athletes at The Ohio State University.

The award winners were recognized January 30, 2020, at half-time of the women’s basketball game against the University of Maryland.

This year’s recipient of the Barbie Tootle Buckeye Spirit award is Vlade Janakievski.

The Barbie Tootle Buckeye Spirit Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated unconditional loyalty and support of athletics at The Ohio State University. Vlade Janakievski is a most deserving 19th recipient of this award.

Vlade was one of the greatest place kickers in Ohio State’s proud football history. He was the first OSU kicker to be selected twice to the All-Big Ten Team. He stands second all-time in extra points for the Buckeyes. He finished his Buckeye career second on Ohio State’s all-time scoring list. He was selected to the Ohio State All-Century Team in 2000, and was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity “O“ Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

For many years, Vlade has been the owner of Easy Living Café, a deli just west of campus on West Lane Avenue. The café has stood as a shrine to athletes and athletics at Ohio State. Vlade and his café have faithfully served great athletes, coaches, and alumni.

This year’s Phyllis Bailey Career Achievement Award winner is an outstanding former women’s basketball player and captain, Kristin Watt. She led the Buckeyes to three Big Ten Championships, and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. She has been an analyst for Ohio State women’s basketball since 1987, while she was attending law school at Ohio State. She is a partner in the law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, where she is the leader of the Environmental Law Group.

In addition to serving as the color analyst for the women’s basketball team, Kristin has served as the Chair of the Board of the Ohio State University Alumni Association, on the College of Law’s National Council, as President of the Varsity “O“ Women’s Alumnae Society, and on the university Athletic Council as an alumni representative.

The Phyllis Bailey Career Achievement Award pays tribute and recognition to a female Ohio State letter winner who, through her career, has contributed to the honor and fame of The Ohio State University, having capitalized on the values learned in intercollegiate athletics and having achieved singular success in her career.

Kristin Watt is a most deserving 13th recipient of this award.

The awards were presented by Varsity “O“ President Steve Chappelear, award namesakes Barbie Tootle and Phyllis Bailey, and Deputy Director of Athletics Janine Oman.

Vlade JanakievskiBarbie Tootle Buckeye Spirit Award

Kristin WattPhyllis Bailey Career Achievement Award

PHYLLIS BAILEY & BARBIE TOOTLE AWARD WINNERS

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The Varsity “O” Alumni Society once again sponsored the annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet presented by the Columbus Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

This year’s banquet was held on February 10, 2020, in the Archie Griffin Ballroom in the Ohio Union. Varsity “O” Past President Jeff Logan, Chapter President, served as the Master of Ceremonies.

The event honored 14 high school football seniors for athletic and academic excellence, and 7 outstanding college football seniors, including Ohio State’s Jordan Fuller. Fuller was a two-time captain for the Buckeyes and was one of 12 finalists nominated for the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame’s prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded to the outstanding senior athlete in the nation. He was a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic All-American.

Former Buckeye quarterback Craig Krenzel was presented with the Ohio Gold Award, the Ohio Chapter’s highest award, for his contributions to amateur football. Krenzel was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.68 GPA in Molecular Biology. He received the Vincent DePaul Draddy Award (now the William V. Campbell Trophy) from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, also known as the academic Heisman Trophy.

The Tyson Gentry Courage Award, presented annually to a player whose actions best demonstrate the qualities of courageous leadership shown by Tyson Gentry, was presented to William White. White played football for the Buckeyes from 1984 through 1987 and captained the team during his senior year.

Craig KrenzelOhio Gold Award

William WhiteTyson Gentry Courage Award

VARSITY “O” SUPPORTS NATIONAL FOOTBALLFOUNDATION

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FALL LETTER JACKET CEREMONY

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VARSITY “O” SUPPORTS MEN’S BASKETBALL CAPTAIN’S DINNER

The Varsity “O” Alumni Society sponsored the 31st Annual Basketball Captains Dinner, held on January 31, 2020, at the OSU Golf Course.

The Varsity “O” Board of Directors joined the past basketball captains, as well as the current team and coaches, for a fun evening of festivities preceding the next day’s game against Indiana, where the captains went on the court during halftime to be recognized by the sell-out crowd. Their presence may have inspired the Buckeyes, who defeated the Hoosiers 68-59.

The most senior captain in attendance was Tom Williams, class of ’53. Also present from the decade of the Fifties were Gene Millard (’57) and Jim Laughlin (’58).

Captain Dick Furry of the 1960 National Championship team attended together with Doug McDonald (’63), Bill Hosket, Jr. (’68), and Denny Meadors (’69).

Captains from the Seventies included Jim “Cougar” Cleamons (’71) and Rick Smith (’79).

The Eighties were represented by Granville Waiters (’83), Ron Stokes (’84-’85), Troy Taylor (’85) and Tony White (’89).

Captains from the Nineties were Alex Davis (’93), Tom Brandewie (’93), Jamie Skelton (’94), Otis Winston (’97) and Jason Singleton (’99).

The decade of the 2000s included Brian Brown (’01-’02), Velimir Radinovic (’04), Terence Dials (’04 -’06), J. J. Sullinger (’06), Matt Sylvester (’06), and Matt Terwilliger (’08).

The most recent captains were Jon Diebler (‘11), and Joey Lane (’19).

Buckeye athletes from 7 fall sports gathered on February 11, 2020, in the Ohio Stadium Varsity “O“ room to receive their Ohio State letter jackets in a traditional ceremony.

The sports recognized were field hockey, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s volleyball, and football. 70 first time letter winners walked out of Ohio Stadium with their new letter jackets. The jacket sizes ranged from small to 5XL-L.

60 YEAR REUNION OF 1960 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

Mike Cirrocha, Gary Milliken, David Barker, Howard Nourse, Gary Gearhart, Bob Knight, Dick Furry, Joe Roberts, Mel Nowell, Jerry Lucas, Beth Havlicek, Tina Siegfried

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50 OSU wrestling alumni were among the sell-out crowd who attended Alumni Night on January 31, as the Buckeyes took on the Maryland Terrapins. The alums were honored at intermission, after the Buckeyes raced to a 19-3 lead. Each former wrestler was introduced to the crowd, shook hands with Coach Tom Ryan, and gathered on the mat to celebrate with fellow alumni.

The alumni shared the evening with Military Appreciation Night, the five-year celebration of Ohio State’s having won the National Championship, and alum Logan Stieber, four-time National Champion, serving as Honorary Coach.

After the break, the grapplers won all five matches, to end the night winning 9 of 10 bouts, by a score of 43-3, and securing 53 take downs to 1 for the Terrapins.

Following the match, the alumni moved across the street to the Schumaker Center for food, beverages, camaraderie, and fellowship with the coaching staff. A behind-the-scenes tour of the Jennings Wrestling Facility was also provided for the alumni by Coach Ryan.

WRESTLING ALUMNI REUNION

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CAREER PLANNING FOR FUTURE LAWYERS

On February 18, 2020, the OSU Student-Athlete Support Services Office (“SASSO”) put on a program called “Careers in Law” for current student-athletes. The event was held in the Schumaker Classroom.

Providing advice were Dean Michael States from the OSU Moritz College of Law, and two lawyer members of the Varsity “O” Board, Joe Budde and Ian Betts.

The participants engaged in a “roundtable” discussion of the legal profession, preparing for and applying to law school, and career advice. The student-athletes were very interested to hear about the attorneys’ own experiences applying to and going through law school, and asked many thought-provoking questions about the job market, and possible stigmas about the legal profession, and made all of us think back to our own journey going through the process.

SASSO intends to put on future events in conjunction with The Eugene Smith Leadership Academy regarding other professions and occupations.

VARSITY “O” PRESENTS ON FINANCIAL WELLNESSFormer Buckeye basketball player and Varsity “O” Board Member Matt Terwilliger presented a program on personal finance for young alumni on February 24, 2020, at 5:30 p.m., at Longaberger Alumni House. Matt is a certified financial planner, and spoke on a variety of topics relevant to young-adults, which included guidance and tips for paying off debt, beginning to save for retirement, and different opportunities to begin to create savings with even low levels of disposable income.

The audience was very engaged, asking questions about different types of retirement accounts, pensions, and college-savings accounts for children. It was an informative and interactive presentation that offered the attendees an opportunity for free advice in a forum without any sales pitch by an advisor. This laid-back approach to providing financial guidance and information was extremely helpful, and something that we will look to build upon with future learning-based events.

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INSIDE THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT: JANINE OMAN

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Janine Oman has over 30 years’ experience in the collegiate athletics environment with her primary background as an athletic trainer and physical therapist providing care to student-athletes. Currently, Oman serves as the Deputy Director of Athletics with an oversight of Sport Administration, Sport Performance, Compliance and Human Resources. She also fills the role of Athletics liaison with Student-Athlete Support Services (SASSO). Oman oversees the men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, and rowing programs.

Oman graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Medical Professions with a certificate in physical therapy in 1985. Oman has an advanced Master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina, and obtained her athletic training certification in 1989. She worked as a physical therapist and athletic trainer while at North Carolina from 1989-1996. She returned to Ohio State in 1996 as an assistant athletic trainer. She assumed the role as Co-Head Athletic Trainer in 2005.

Oman transitioned into an administration role in 2007 as the Assistant A.D. for Sport Performance. Since, she has assumed additional responsibilities as an Associate A.D. for Sport Administration and Sport Performance (2013), SWA and Senior Associate A.D. for Student Services and Sport Administration (2016), and then her current position as the Deputy Director of Athletics in 2018.

Oman is a member of many national organizations including:

National Athletic Trainer’s Association

National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)

Women’s Leaders in College Sports

Alliance of Women’s Coaches

Oman was also a member of the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Committee from 2014-18, serving as the Committee Chair 2016-2018. She is currently a member of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Committee.

ADVICE FROM YOUR TEAM PHYSICIAN

Many people become more active during this time of year as spring sports kick off and the weather encourages outdoor activities. Whether you are enjoying a familiar training routine or dusting off the sneakers, injuries and pain can sideline even the most seasoned athletes. Ohio State Sports Medicine is your partner in keeping athletes of all levels active for a lifetime.

One of the ways our providers keep athletes in the game is orthobiologic injection-based therapy. It can be a safe and effective alternative to surgery or steroid injections for treating osteoarthritis and tendinopathy (tendonitis). Orthobiologics are treatment options that use substances naturally found in the body in an intensified concentration. They work with your body to improve symptoms and potentially restore cartilage and tendon structure.

Investment in Innovation: Ohio State Sports Medicine uses an advanced system in its procedures, allowing our physicians to customize the cell content, platelet concentration and blood volume specific to each patient’s needs. Our technology also allows for two joints to be addressed during the same appointment.

Expert care: Our model of care is more than just an injection, but working to improve every aspect of your joint health. This includes education, research partnerships to further advance the field of orthobiologics and physical therapists that work to optimize your strength and function after your procedure.

Ongoing Research: Our dedication to research provides you with the safest, most evidence-based interventions. Our research outcomes database allows us to track patient progress for up to two years to optimize treatment plans.

How It Works: Our Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) procedure starts with performing a small blood draw and isolating the platelets that contain healing proteins via a centrifuge. We use an advanced system which allows our physicians to customize the cell content, platelet concentration and blood volume specific to each patient’s needs. Those platelets are then injected into the problem joint or tendon. The entire process takes about 30 minutes. Patients with blood disorders and those requiring anti-inflammatory medicines may not be good candidates.

For more information about Orthobiologics, visit Ohio State Sports Medicine. One of our Sports Medicine Staff is happy to answer any questions or give information on current research studies, call directly at 614-688-9176.

Varsity O News Spring 202010

Varsity O News Spring 202011

HARWOOD POOL

By Robert J. Roman

No student shaped the feel of life at Ohio State more than a student named Harwood Pool. Pool had previously attended the Hopkins School, a prep academy in New Haven, Connecticut. In the spring of 1878, he was the only freshman invited onto a committee tasked with choosing Ohio State’s school colors. When the committee’s initial choice of orange and black was rejected, for being the colors of Princeton, they needed to pick again. The campus liked the second choice much better: scarlet and gray. The committee never offered an explanation for that choice, but Pool was probably influenced by the colors at Hopkins, which were maroon and gray.

As a senior, Pool became the person most responsible for founding and editing a new campus magazine. That magazine was named the Lantern, and within a few years it would grow into the newspaper still published today. The third issue of the Lantern featured an editorial advocating the formation of a student athletic association. This association, the editorial said, would build sports teams and find them opponents to play. The editorial argued that if sports were to develop on campus, “work will be the easier, and college life the pleasanter and freer from the miserable, sluggish feelings that so often oppress.”

A few weeks later, Pool chaired the meeting at which the Ohio State University Athletic Association was formed. The Association had three standing committees: one for baseball, one for football, and one for “general athletics,” responsible for track and field events. As an athlete, Pool was a sprinter, and he put himself in charge of the General Athletics Committee. Within a few days, he organized a campus “Field Day,” which mostly featured track and field events. There, Pool became the first Ohio State champion in the 100-yard and 220-yard dashes. Field Day would become an annual competition, out of which the Ohio State track and field team eventually evolved. More broadly, the Athletic Association provided the context in which the Ohio State baseball, football, and basketball teams all developed.

Pool died on December 29, 1903, due to complications from gastritis and rheumatic gout. He was only 44 years old. In his obituary, the Columbus Dispatch praised him as the founder of the Lantern. The Lantern itself went further. Their obituary stated that Pool “probably did more than any other man to develop the college spirit at O. S. U.”.

Robert J. Roman is the author of Ohio State Football: The Forgotten Dawn where additional stories such as this one can be found.

MILLER ANDERSON, THE ALL-AMERICAN BOY

By: Rusty Wilson[Editor’s Note: In this scheduled year of the Olympics, Varsity “O” is presenting stories of some past Buckeyes who reached Olympic stardom.]

After coming to Ohio State from Lane Tech High School in Chicago in 1941, 17-year-old Miller Anderson made an instant mark in the sport of diving by winning the NCAA national 3-meter springboard championships his freshman year. Soon afterward Anderson joined the U.S. Army Air Corps.

As a P-47 pilot he fought in the Balkans, southern France, the Po Valley, Apennines, and Rome-Arno. During his 112th mission he was forced to bail out of his flak-riddled plane over northern Italy. He hit the plane’s tail as he jumped and shattered his left thigh nearly tearing off his leg in the process. After landing he was immediately taken prisoner by the Germans.

“They stuck me in the hospital at Verona, and put my leg in traveling splints,” Anderson recalled for “Sport” magazine in 1947. “I was there only a week when they moved me to Montova and slapped a cast on the leg without setting the bone properly. About six weeks later, our troops took the town. I was evacuated to an American hospital. There my leg was re-broken, and properly set, with a silver plate in it. They sent me back home, and pretty soon I learned to walk with crutches. I was afraid of what the doctors might say, so I never did ask them whether I’d be able to dive again. I just made up my mind that someday I was going to do it.”

Mike Peppe remembered the effect that Anderson’s experiences had on the Buckeye coach and those who knew him.

“When Miller came back, it was all I could do to keep from breaking into tears. Here was this kid, home with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, and a flock of (five) battle stars. And he limped up to me, limped, mind you, this picture-athlete who had gone away to war.

You’ll never know what he went through to dive again. His knee was so stiff it wouldn’t bend. Why, that left leg had been his take off leg. Do you know what that means to a diver? We decided he’ll have to start all over again and learn to take his hurdle stride off the other leg. It was almost like trying to make a right-handed pitcher left-handed.

But, Anderson stuck with it. Week after week, the strength flowed back into his bad leg. It loosened up. The limp disappeared, and he finally mastered his dives, coming off the right leg. That’s the way he did it all during the 1946 season, when he won the Conference, NCAA, and AAU championships and became top diver on the All-American team.”

At Ohio State Anderson once again won the NCAA three-meter championship, and the one and three-meter national AAU championships in 1946, 1947, and 1948. In total he won 16 championships - three Big 10 titles, five NCAA championships, seven AAU indoor titles, and one AAU outdoor title. He was the first person to perform a forward one-and-a-half somersault with two twists, and a backward one-and-a-half with one twist. He was also named NCAA Swimmer of the Year.

At the 1948 London Olympic Games, Anderson finished second (157.29) to Ohio State teammate Bruce Harlan (163.64) in the springboard. During a practice session for the platform competition Anderson, while attempting a handstand cut through, struck his left foot and fell to the water on his back. Bleeding, he was rushed to Wembley Hospital and spent two days under observation at the U.S. team camp at Uxbridge. He was diagnosed with a slight hemorrhage resulting from a concussion. Many believed Anderson would have taken home a medal if he could have competed.

Varsity O News Spring 202012

MILLER ANDERSON, THE ALL-AMERICAN BOY CONT.In 1952 at Helsinki, Anderson took the springboard silver medal again. This time his good friend Sammy Lee, later to become Greg Louganis’ first coach, took the gold, but it took a little psychology from Anderson to make sure he won the gold.

“The two of us were diving at the nationals in 1942, and we talked about what would happen to us after the war,” Lee recalled in Lewis Carlson and John Fogarty’s “Tales of Gold”. “Miller said, `I’ll tell you what Sam. Let’s make a vow that if we both survive, we’ll come back and be Olympic champions.’ Miller came in second in the springboard . . . missing a dive he had never missed before. Afterward he came up to me and said, `Sam, I let you down. Now don’t you let me down.’ . . . I always had to get angry to do well, and during the finals Miller told me that his wife was sitting near the judges’ stand and had overheard Larry Johnson, the President of our AAU Swimming Federation, say to the judges, `I hope you don’t favor that Korean.’ That was all I needed. I really started diving.”

Shortly after the 1952 Olympics Anderson’s life turned upside down when his wife was diagnosed with paralytic polio that quickly progressed throughout her body. In 1953, while Anderson was returning from a business trip to Chicago, he was notified that his wife had taken a turn for the worse. She lingered for a few days after his return to Columbus before succumbing to the disease, leaving Anderson to raise a young daughter and son.

The evening of October 28, 1965 Anderson, who by that time operated his own swimming pool construction business in Columbus, had dinner with his former coach Mike Peppe. Later that night Anderson suffered a heart attack and died the following morning, October 29, at the age of 42.

Varsity O News Spring 202013

Rusty Wilson is the author of the book Ohio State University of the Olympics

MARQUIS MILLER, CHICAGO’S FIRST CHIEF DIVERSITYOFFICER, CONTINUES A LEGACY OF MENTORSHIP &

SUPPORT

Marquis Miller ‘81 grew up in a household with high expectations. He came from three generations of college students: His great-grandmother went to what is now West Virginia State University (WVSU), his grandfather went to Livingstone College and his parents went to WVSU.

“I had such a legacy and the lineage to live up to that even with some of the challenges that confronted me — some of my own doing — I didn’t have a choice. I had to succeed,” Miller said. “That’s all of the incentive I needed to continue to drive and drive.”

Now, as the first chief diversity officer for the city of Chicago, Miller wants to open doors for minorities and other underrepresented communities, too.

His entrance into diversity and inclusion wasn’t “by design,” he said. Instead, after he graduated from Ohio State with a degree in social and behavioral sciences, he went to work for a savings and loan company and then for a furniture company.

It’s a great feeling to help people start to see themselves as the true and authentic people that they really are and help them to realize that they have something of value to contribute to the world.”

In his jobs, he was often one of a handful of people, if not the only person, from a non-white background, and he found himself advocating for increasing access and opportunities for African Americans and other minorities. Then, he came to work for Ohio State in a development capacity.

“I was one of a handful of African American leaders fundraising for the university,” Miller said. “This led me to being more active with opportunities to recruit African-Americans to get involved in the university.”

The position launched a career for him in fundraising and business development. He eventually became vice president of the Midwest region for the United Negro College Fund, which took him to Chicago and set him on the path to his current job with the city.

Varsity O News Spring 202014

MARQUIS MILLER, CHICAGO’S FIRST CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER, CONTINUES A LEGACY OF MENTORSHIP &

SUPPORT CONT.“Working with diverse business owners gave me some unique perspectives about strategic sourcing, about recruiting and about how to remove or at least ameliorate the barriers that prevent minorities — African Americans, Hispanic and Latinos and Asians in particular — from navigating and negotiating opportunities where historically there had been obstacles,” Miller said.

Now, he’s leading the development and implementation of Chicago’s diversity and inclusion plan, part of which includes building networks and affinity groups among city offices to create a stronger culture of belonging and employee support.

Miller understands the power of such support systems, both through his family and also through the mentors and role models he worked with at Ohio State. He said Jim and Barbie Tootle, who together held various academic and administrative positions at Ohio State, counseled him to take a deep and broad view of his academics, motivating him to create his own major that helped him develop his public speaking while gaining a better understanding of human behavior.

Miller additionally said Frank Hale, former vice provost for diversity and inclusion and professor emeritus, and Ed Ray, a former economics professor, were also key mentors throughout his undergraduate education.

On top of his regular coursework, Miller was also recruited to play basketball and became a student-athlete. He said Larry Romanoff and others in the Department of Athletics pushed him to continue growing and to take advantage of all the academic resources and services at his disposal.

Together, this environment helped Miller work through challenges he encountered while a student, like when he became a teen parent.

“My daughter was born when I was 19 years old, and she was born with some health challenges, so you need to grow up really fast or you wither,” Miller said. “Ohio State was so supportive, and I certainly chalk up a lot of whatever I consider to be success to my Ohio State experience.”

The mentorship Miller received as an undergraduate inspired his work once he came back to the university as an employee, enabling him to also counsel other students to make the most of their time at Ohio State.

Now, he says he feels a sense of obligation to give back to people and pay forward the help he received throughout his education and career.

“It’s a great feeling to help people start to see themselves as the true and authentic people that they really are and help them to realize that they have something of value to contribute to the world,” Miller said.

Reprinted with permission from the OSU College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter

Varsity O News Spring 202015

Marquis Miller, pictured in his Buckeyes jersey to the right, graduated from St. Charles Preparatory School as one of the most celebrated

basketball players in the school’s history.

Miller, pictured above playing against Kentucky’s basketball team, became a father while in college. His daughter, Janae Miller, now works

with the Harmony Project in Columbus as a blind adult.

DR. JIM BORCHERS ON CALL FOR OSU STUDENTATHLETES 24/7/365

By Tami Kamin Meyer

A workday for Jim Borchers, the head team physician for the Ohio State University Department of Athletics, is any day that ends with the word ‘day.’ That’s because as the leader of OSU’s Athletics Sports Medicine team, Borchers is on call all day, every day.

For those keeping score, that is 24/7/365.

“I am here to manage the healthcare of the team,” says Borchers, who himself played football for the Buckeyes from 1989-1993. Football players continue to play a huge role in his life as Borchers also travels with the football team for away games.

He calls young adults who both play a collegiate sport and maintain their studies “a challenging population. You’re trying to help the athlete return to what they enjoy doing, which is to play sports. That has always appealed to me,” says Borchers.

He credits his years as a student-athlete as providing an “acute understanding of the tradition associated with Buckeye Athletics. I was on that side of it then and now I’m on the other side as a physician providing care to student-athletes. To be able to give something back to these student-athletes and see their successes carry on the tradition is rewarding and enjoyable.”

Nearly 260 staffers toil together to attend to the needs of OSU’s athletes. Of that number, 15 are physicians who work under Borchers. Partly because of the large staff focused on the welfare of student-athletes and their access to the highly regarded OSU Wexner Medical Center, medical care for athletes at Ohio State is top-notch.

“We provide them whatever they need. We have expertise in everything. There is no treatment we don’t offer. Student-athletes have access to everything OSU has to offer,” he said.

Although he admits joining the sports medicine team at Ohio State wasn’t necessarily on his radar when he studied medicine, the positive memories of those who cared for him when he played for the Buckeyes resonated with Borchers as he pondered paths for his professional career.

“You talk about tradition and the excellence at OSU. It’s a culture of excellence that inspires people to be sure they are giving their best to play their sport. We are inspired to give our best, too, so we strive to give the best to student healthcare,” summed Borchers.

He notes being a former student-athlete plays a distinct role in how he approaches his duties at Ohio State. Being a one-time Buckeye athlete “gives me a perspective of a student-athlete, and not just football players,” he said.

Although Borchers is head team physician for all of OSU’s 36 varsity sports, he certainly can’t attend all the games each team plays in case his medical services are needed. Therefore, he focuses his time on joining the football team on their home and away games as well as home matches for men’s tennis, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball and lacrosse teams. Not surprisingly, Borchers was on the sidelines when Ohio State played the Clemson Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona last December, which was not the first time he traveled with the team when the stakes were high.

“We routinely travel with the football team because of the size of the team and the risk of injury to the athletes,” he says.

But treating Buckeye student-athletes at the Jameson Crane Sports Medicine facility, on the sidelines of a game and teaching for the university’s Department of Family Medicine are not his only OSU duties. Borchers also treats and consults with private patients whose injuries have led them to the Jameson Crane Sports Medicine facility.

Varsity O News Spring 202016

DR. JIM BORCHERS ON CALL FOR OSU STUDENTATHLETES 24/7/365 CONT.

According to Borchers, his uppermost consideration is “creating a safe environment” for Ohio State athletes. When he is called upon to make an immediate medical decision when a potential injury occurs during a game, Borchers relies on his years of medical training to remain calm and level-headed. Still, that’s easier said than done.

“Each situation is complicated,” he says, making proper training for him and his medical team imperative.

“It’s part of your training to be calm in an emergency,” he says.

No matter what happens, on or off the playing field, Borchers says he is thrilled to be spending his career at OSU. “Certainly, it’s a privilege to do what I do,” he sums.

Tami Kamin Meyer is a Columbus attorney and freelance writer who tweets as @girlwithapen. She has interviewed professional athletes including baseball great Hank Aaron and NBA superstar Bill Russell, to name a few. She is the Social Media Chair of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Varsity O News Spring 202017

TEAM BUCKEYE TO PARTICIPATE IN PELOTONIA

Varsity “O” is providing an opportunity for members to join Team Buckeye, and take part in this year’s Pelotonia, August 7-9, 2020.

Pelotonia began in 2008 as a two-day bike ride in Columbus, Ohio to raise funds for cancer research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James. Pelotonia, the Ride, includes a weekend of cycling, entertainment and volunteerism. There are many weekend Pelotonia rides to choose from, including 25, 35, 55, 75- and 100-mile rides.

As a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, Pelotonia raises money for cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. In just eleven years the Pelotonia community raised over $208 million for cancer research. But they aren’t stopping there. Every single dollar that is raised is invested in innovative cancer research.

Varsity “O’s” policy is to not endorse fundraising efforts for charitable organizations, as there are many worthy causes deserving of support, and Varsity “O” cannot support all who seek our support. Therefore, Team Buckeye is simply a vehicle for those Varsity “O”members who would like to either ride in this year’s Pelotonia or support those members who are riding.

Registration Direction:Go to: https://pelotonia.org

Click Register

Choose Rider Registration, Virtual Rider Registration or Volunteer Registration.

Enter your personal information

Choose the ride in which you would like to participate/Support.

Request to join a Peloton: Team Buckeye or click search, which will list all pelotons that you could join.

Complete requested donation information

Learn all desired Pelotonia information and FAQs directly from the website

All information, ride descriptions, parking, contact telephone numbers and resources are provided on this website by Pelotonia.

Varsity O News Spring 202018

Ride a bike, and help knock out cancer.

The Ohio State University Varsity “O” Alumni Society seeks nominations from members for its four annual awards.

The Barbie Tootle Buckeye Spirit Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated unconditional loyalty and support of athletics at The Ohio State University. The winner may be, but is not required to be, a former athlete, or a coach or member of the Athletics Department staff.

Previous winners of this award include Barbie Tootle, Ruth Hyde Porteus, Helen Fryoff, Larry Romanoff, Peg Schafer Jackson, Denny Tishkoff, Kate Griffee, Kristin Watt, Craig Little, Sandy Slomin, Andy Geiger, Jan Wolf, Donna Ball, Teri Casperson, Linda Logan, Dr. Debbie Mendel, Kim Dally, Theresa Bowers, and Vlade Janakievski.

The Phyllis Bailey Career Achievement Award pays tribute and recognition to a female Ohio State letter winner who, through her career, has contributed to the honor and fame of The Ohio State University, having capitalized on the values learned in intercollegiate athletics and having achieved singular success in her career.

Past winners of this award include Phyllis Bailey, Barb Vogart Holman, Robin Tucker, Dru Ann Hancock, Tara VanDerver, Sally Dellinger, Michelle Willis, Andy Teitelbaum, Mamie Rallins, Denny Hoobler, Katie Smith, Stephanie Hightower, and Kristin Watt (some of these were selected before the award was restricted to females).

The Jim Jones Career Achievement Award pays tribute and recognition to those male Ohio State letter winners who, through their careers, have contributed to the honor and fame of The Ohio State University. These award winners have capitalized on the values learned in intercollegiate athletics and have achieved singular success in their career.

Past winners of this award include Charles Csuri, Jameson Crane, and Clark Kellogg.

The Loyalty Award pays tribute to those individuals who, over the course of their lifetime, have been extraordinary in their services to Varsity “O” and/or the Ohio State University Athletics Department.

Past winners of this award include Lou Fisher, Dr. William D. Heintz, Dr. Chalmer Hickson, Marv Homan, Sol Maggied, Frank “Moose” Machinsky, Robert Ries, Alex Schoenbaum, Ralph Waldo, Larry Romanoff, and Jeff Logan.

Please submit names and relevant supporting information to Awards Committee Chair Matt Finkes, at matthew.finkes@osumc.edu.

Varsity O News Spring 202019

CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS

Kristin Watt, an Ohio State women’s basketball player from 1981-1985, has and always will be thankful for her time as a Buckeye. Now, she is eternally grateful to be able to give back to the university that has provided her with so much.

During her four years on campus, Watt and her teammates were named Big Ten Champions every year, but she still does not consider that her greatest personal achievement while a student-athlete. She stated, “I really didn’t have that many game minutes on the court, but I always took underclassmen under my wing. I loved doing that and am proud of that role I took. I think the achievement I am most proud of was being recognized as a scholar-athlete all four years of my career.”

The opportunity to start giving back to Ohio State was one of the easier decisions that Watt made once she graduated. Once she realized where her athletic scholarship came from, she knew that she wanted to help provide a similar opportunity in the life of another student-athlete. “Our university is what it is today because people have made contributions in the past,” Kristin continued, “the way our university has flourished is because alumni and friends have been so generous.”

Every donation to Ohio State helps make an impact, regardless of the dollar amount. “I am thankful to be in a position to be a donor. But, really, pretty much everyone is in a position to be a donor of time, talent and/or treasure.” Kristin said that she started small and as she became more established, she was happy to be able to slowly contribute a little more each year. Her contributions and support of Buckeye Nation over the years have shown how much Ohio State has meant to her.

Kristin was the first president of the OSU Women’s Varsity “O” Alumnae Association, and recently served as chair of the OSU AlumniAssociation Board of Directors. She was presented with the Phyllis Bailey Career Achievement Award this past January.

Varsity O News Spring 202020

WHY I GIVE: KRISTIN WATT

Varsity O News Spring 202021

WHY BE A VARSITY “O” MEMBER

The Ohio State University Varsity “O” Alumni Society is an exciting, active alumni organization consisting of former Ohio State varsity athletes who earned at least one letter in their varsity sport. We enjoyed our time competing for the Buckeyes and we strive to help current and former Buckeyes. Our slogan is “Athletes Helping Athletes”, which we achieve by creating programs designed to help current and former Buckeye athletes. We are proud of our rich history and tradition and celebrate our legacy through our Athletics Hall of Fame, team reunions, and sales of Varsity “O” apparel, rings, mugs, and flags. We support current athletes through fully funded scholarships, post graduate scholarships, recognition of team captains, a first-time letter winners’ ceremony, and awards to the teams with the highest and most improved grade point averages. We provide Buckeye networking opportunities through social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, the Varsity “O” website, quarterly newsletters, our annual Homecoming Tailgate, pre-game football tailgates, receptions at football and basketball games, and receptions at select away football games and other sporting events.

Benefits of membership:

Ability to purchase OSU football tickets

Free admission for two to OSU Olympic sports events

Invitations to exclusive Varsity “O” events

OSU golf course walk-on privileges

Access to Varsity “O” Store for exclusive goods and apparel

20% discount on goods at Ohio State Team Shop

Quarterly Varsity “O” Newsletter

Sustaining membership in OSU Alumni Association

Buckeye Club Membership

Be a part of The People, The Tradition and The Excellence and become a Varsity “O” Member today! Go to varsityo.alumni.osu.edu/membership/

Questions? Write buckeyeclub@osu.edu or call 614.292.9908

Varsity O News Spring 202022

MEET NEW VARSITY “O” MEMBER JASON SINGLETON

Jason Singleton joined the Varsity “O” Board in 2020. As a former student athlete and former employee of The Ohio State University, Jason understands the importance of the mission of Varsity “O”. One of the things Jason would like to do is position Varsity “O” as a mission driven organization that assists its student-athletes and alumni as a lifelong companion and support system for life after sports. He is looking forward to serving as a role model for student-athletes on how leadership skills learned as a student-athlete can be used for the rest of your life.

Jason is serving in his first year as Director of Athletics at Columbus Academy, where he oversees 60 different athletic teams. In Jason’s first season, the school secured 3 state titles in boys’ golf, girls’ individual tennis, as well as field hockey: making this the most successful sports season in Columbus Academy’s history. One of Jason’s biggest accomplishments so far is being responsible for piloting Columbus Academy’s first female golf team. Jason brings over a decade of sports administrative experience to Columbus Academy and is looking forward to decades of success.

Prior to Columbus Academy, Jason joined the Ohio State University Athletic Department in 2012 as Associate Director. In March of 2017, Singleton took the position of Men’s Basketball Sport Administrator, and brought with him a wealth of collegiate experience. Prior to beginning his career with The Ohio State University, he held a 5-year tenure with the National Collegiate Athletic Association headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In addition to having years of professional collegiate experience, Jason was a stand-out collegiate basketball player for The Ohio State University from 1995-1999. During his senior year, Jason served as captain of the Buckeye basketball team and helped guide Ohio State to its first NCAA Final Four tournament in 31 years. He also played professional basketball for three years in various leagues, including in Australia.

A native of Detroit, Singleton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from The Ohio State University in 2000 and his Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from Central Michigan University in 2004. He resides in Columbus with his wife, Candice. They are the proud parents of two children, Jason and Kyndal.

Varsity O News Spring 202023

MEET VARSITY “O” BOARD MEMBER &SECRETARY LIZ LUCAS

Our Secretary of the OSU Varsity “O” Alumni Society for 2020 is Liz (Hellickson) Lucas.

Liz was a member of the Buckeye rowing team from 1997-2001 where she was one of the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor Finalists, as well as one of Ten Outstanding Seniors at Ohio State in 2001.

In 2001, Liz received her BS in Biology. She continued to receive her Master’s in Education from Ohio State in 2002. Liz began her teaching career in August of 2002 in Worthington. The following year she moved to Hilliard Davidson in Hilliard City Schools. She has been teaching Biology, Physical Science and Anatomy and Physiology at Davidson since then.

Liz has been very active in the Hilliard community. She started the girls Hilliard Rowing Program in 2003. This program continues to thrive and now includes boys as well. Liz has served as a board member of a local nonprofit called Families for a Cure which has raised over $1 million for cancer research and patient care programs. She is the advisor for Future Medical Career Club at Davidson which exposes students to the variety of professions within medicine. Recently, she took a group of 23 students to the Galapagos Islands, a true trip of a lifetime! She plans on taking students in the summer of 2021 on a Health Science Tour through Scotland, England and France.

In 2012, Liz joined the Women’s Varsity “O” Alumnae Association Board and has been a board member since the men’s and women’s merger six years ago. But she has been a Buckeye for much longer than her time at OSU. She moved to central Ohio in 1986 when her father, Russ Hellickson, accepted the head wrestling coach position at The Ohio State University.

Liz lives in Hilliard with Greg, her husband of 14 years. She has a daughter, Brooke, an 8th grader at Hilliard Weaver Middle School. Emma and Landon, her twins, are 4th graders at Norwich Elementary. Liz’s days after work are spent attending and supporting her children through their many activities.

In her limited free time, Liz loves to run and has completed two marathons and five half-marathons. She also loves to read and travel the globe!

Varsity O News Spring 202024

MEET VARSITY “O” BOARD MEMBER AND

SECRETARY LIZ LUCAS

MEET THE BOARDVarsity O Alumni Society Board of Directors

CANDACE DARKPast-President

Basketball (‘03-’07)

Director of Outreach & Engagement at TheJames Cancer Hospital & OSU Wexner MedicalCenter

candace.dark@osumc.edu

STEVECHAPPELEARPresident

Wrestling (‘71-’74)Business Trial Attorneyat Frost Brown Todd

schappelear@fbtlaw.com

JILL (VINCENT)BURKEPresident-Elect

SynchronizedSwimming (‘76-’80)

Principal in Southwestern City Schools

jillvburke@gmail.com

RON MACIEJOWSKIBoard Member

Football (‘68-’70)

Executive VicePresident, Greer Steel Company

rmace3166@outlook.com

JOE BUDDETreasurer

Swimming (‘71-’74)

Private Practice Attorney

Joe@BuddeRealEstateLaw.com

IAN BETTSBoard Member

Swimming (‘12-’14)

Attorney, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease

imbetts@vorys.com

GARTH COXBoard Member

Football (‘74-’77)Attorney, Harris McClellan Binau & Cox PLL

gcox@hmbc.com

CASSIE DICKERSONBoard Member

Women’s Soccer (‘06-’10)Intellectual Property Strategy,Ohio State TechnologyCommercialization

dickerson.142@osu.edu

MATT FINKESBoard Member

Football (‘93-’96)Director of Development Wexner Medical Center

Finkes.1@osu.edu

LIBBY (GRAF)O’BRIENBoard Member

Women’s Lacrosse (‘05-’09)

Special Needs Preschool Teacher in Southwestern City Schools

libbygraf@yahoo.com

TOM LEVENICKBoard Member

Football (‘78-’82)

President, PowerPlayStrategies, Inc.

tom@powerplaycorp.com

KATY (CRAIG)SWATHWOODBoard Member

Track & Field (‘99-’02)Executive SalesRepresentative, Eli Lilly & Company

kcswathwood@gmail.com

ANTONIO SMITHBoard Member

Football (‘02-’06)

Vice President,Driven Foundation

asmith4485@aol.com

JASON SINGLETONBoard Member

Men’s Basketball ( ‘95-‘99)

Athletic DirectorColumbus Academy

singletonj@columbusacademy.org

LIZ (HELLICKSON)LUCASSecretary

Rowing (‘97-’01)

High School Teacher,Hilliard City Schools

ehellickson@hotmail.com

ITEM #1Varsity O License Plate Frame

Varsity O News Spring 202025

ITEM #2Framed Chenille Award

Questions? Joe@BuddeRealEstateLaw.com

LICENSE PLATE FRAME$30 - includes shipping when delivered to a business address$35 - includes shipping when delivered to a residence due to UPS charges

FRAMED CHENILLE AWARD

$75 - includes all shipping costs

ITEM NUMBER REQUESTED:*If requesting item #2, please list name, varsity sport(s) and year(s) participated how you would like it to appear on the award.

VO MEMBER NAME:

VARSITY SPORT(S):

YEAR(S) PARTICIPATED:

SHIPPING ADDRESS:

ORDER FORM

Mail this order form and your check payable to: OSU Varsity “O” Alumni Society to:

Joseph E. Budde, ESQ, 259 W. Schrock Road, Westerville, OH 43081

SPECIAL VARSITY O ALUMNI SOCIETY LICENSE PLATE FRAMES, CHENILLE AWARD FRAMES, FLAGS & BANNERS

AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO PURCHASE

Varsity O News Spring 202026

DESCRIPTION

SKU # FLC -2008SKU # FLC -2009SKU # FLC -2010SKU # FLC -2011SKU # FLC -2012

Varsity O Alumni Society Printed Nylon FlagWhite Varsity O Alumni Society Printed Nylon FlagWhite Varsity O Alumni Society Printed Nylon BannerRed Varsity O Alumni Society Printed Nylon FlagRed Varsity O Alumni Society Printed Nylon Banner

$ 130.00$ 130.00$ 107.00$ 130.00$ 107.00

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Email Completed form to: patricia@flagladyusa.comCall with any questions! 614-263-1776 x 306

VARSITY O ALUMNI SOCIETY FLAG & BANNER

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Varsity O News Spring 202027

For a complete listing of upcoming Alumni Association events, visit osu.edu/alumni/activities-and-events/events

Alumni events are filled with fun, festivities and, yes, sometimes football. The Ohio State experience doesn’t stop with commencement, so come together with your fellow alumni to enjoy more time as a #BuckeyeForLife.

TOUR THE SHOE WITH VARSITY O

August 12, 2020

Back by popular demand, Varsity “O” will be offering a Behind the Scenes Tour of Ohio Stadium to include the locker room, band room, press box, recruiting room and Huntington Club, followed by refreshments in the Varsity “O” room. A great experience was had by all in 2019 and we expect another terrific event. Registration e-mails will be forthcoming.

We regret the necessary cancelllation of some upcoming events, due to the COVID-19 Virus. We hope to reschedule the Shumaker Complex Tour, the Covelli Center Tour, and Meet the Coaches Night, once we can enjoy time together on campus. Please stay tuned for further news.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ANNUAL HOMECOMING TAILGATE

September 26, 2020

Once again, Varsity “O” will be conducting the Homecoming Tailgate in French Fieldhouse prior to the Ohio State vs Rutgers Homecoming football game. This annual Tailgate provides active Varsity “O” members the opportunity to meet and greet many Varsity “O” Members and the Board of Directors. Doors will open 3 hours prior to kickoff. You will be able to enjoy food and beverage while socializing with fellow Varsity “O” Buckeyes. Entertainment will also be provided and an awards ceremony honoring the recipients of the Jim Jones Lifetime Achievement Award and the Varsity “O” Loyalty Award. Registration will be offered late summer 2020.